Currey Road bridge may open to traffic in monsoon

By Sujit Mahamulkar and Ranjeet Jadhav |Posted 27-May-2014

As the ongoing construction work for Monorail will stop during the three rainy months, MMRDA is most likely let four-wheelers use the bridge

Motorists taking the detour, travelling towards Lower Parel and Currey Road from the Lalbaug area, can heave a sigh of relief. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is thinking of re-allowing four-wheelers on the Currey Road rail over-bridge.

MMRDA is currently working on the Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor of the Monorail, at the crucial Currey Road bridge. Pic/Datta Kumbhar

Presently, the development authority is carrying out construction work for the Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor of the Monorail. In December 2012, authorities banned the entry of all vehicles on the bridge. Three months later, two-wheelers were allowed to ply over it.

The road (Mahadev Palav Marg) witnesses heavy office-going traffic, as it connects Lalbaug and Parel with N M Joshi Marg. Diversions for four-wheelers via Chinchpokli and Elphinstone Bridge had added as much as 45 minutes to the commute.

MMRDA’s Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar remained non-committal, saying, “We have not yet taken a final decision to open the bridge for vehicles. We will decide on the same after taking all factors into consideration.” However, sources from MMRDA told mid-day that there are chances that the road would be operational during the rains.

“During the monsoon, MMRDA won’t be able to do much of construction activity. The important phase of constructing Monorail infrastructure passing over railway tracks at Currey Road will require permissions from the Commissioner of Railway Safety. These go-aheads are only expected to arrive after monsoon. Hence, the bridge might allow four-wheeler traffic.”